The MaCAD is a unique online programme training a new generation of architects, engineers and designers ready to develop skills into the latest softwares, computational tools, BIM technologies and AI towards innovation for the Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry.

Filters

Digital tools for Structural Optimization 

Project Overview This structural analysis and optimization focuses on a studio project designed as an office and industrial hybrid typology housing creative industries, such as architecture studios and robotics fabrication labs. The building is generated through an aggregation process, resulting in variable building heights that generally fall within high-rise parameters. The structural system consists of … Read more

Analysis of Generative Glulam and Steel Beam Structure

Our generative building is a mixed-use typology with height ranging from 4 to 12 stories. The primary design focus is to create a transformable and adaptable structure that can respond seamlessly to changing functional needs. To achieve this, the building incorporates lightweight, recyclable, and circular materials, paired with modular connection elements that allow for easy … Read more

New York City Environmental Analysis

Spring Summer Autumn Winter Figure 1.1: New York Seasonal Change New York City experiences distinct seasonal changes that shape its environment and urban character. In spring, the city transitions to milder conditions, with unpredictable weather patterns and renewed greenery. Summer brings intense heat and humidity, influencing activity patterns and urban energy demands. Fall is marked … Read more

Milan – Environmental Strategies for Early Design Stages

LOCATION City:   Milan Climatic cat.:   Zone E, 2 404 DD – by ENEA National Agency Coordinates:   45°28′01″N 9°11′24″E Altitude:   120 m s.l.m. Characteristics: Hot summers and cold winters. Local exceptions to the humid subtropical climate model are to be expected.Protected from both cold winds and mild winds.High humidity, given the alluvial nature of … Read more

Climate-Responsive Design for Singapore

This project explores the relationship between Singapore’s tropical climate and architectural design. By analyzing climatic data—such as temperature, humidity, solar radiation, and wind patterns—we evaluated how a specific building shape interacts with the environment. Through computational tools, we simulated the building’s performance to address key challenges like heat gain and airflow. The results informed potential … Read more

Kaleidos

Abstract The project, Kaleidos, is the story of a transformative rehabilitation system that redefines the experience of incarceration. It targets individuals undergoing psychological recovery, creating a dynamic, non-linear journey of healing. This architecture does more than confine—it evolves, adapts, and interacts with its users, guiding them through stages of denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. … Read more

Digital Tools for Environmental Analysis | Rome

Rome has a Mediterranean climate characterized by hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters. Average temperatures range from around 8.5°C in winter to about 31°C in summer​. The city experiences moderate rainfall, with the wettest months typically being October and November. Climate Analysis In Rome, the bulb temperature, which reflects the combined effect of air … Read more

Richmond, VA, USA Climate Analysis

This analysis focuses on Richmond, Virginia in the United States of America. Weather conditions in Richmond are typical of a mid-latitude location. We’ve explored the environmental conditions that shape building design and urban planning in this mid-latitude location. Our focus is on a vacant lot at 701 East Canal Street, in downtown Richmond. This property … Read more

Digital Tools for Environmental Analysis | Porto

When it comes to designing sustainable urban spaces, understanding the local climate and environmental factors is crucial. This analysis on environmental conditions for Porto focuses on climate, thermal comfort, solar radiation, wind analysis, and urban heat mitigation. Here are the key takeaways from this comprehensive research. Climate Analysis: Understanding Porto’s Unique Conditions Porto’s climate is … Read more

THE EDEN TOWER

INSPIRATION The project is born from the idea of rehabilitation, an inverse concept from Dante’s inferno, where the downward spiraling levels of damnation turn into and ascending stair of redemption. The process of re-insertion into society is understood as a Hero’s Journey towards the top, where the Garden of Eden awaits. Instead of being convicted … Read more

Climate-driven Design – Solar Architecture

LOCATION General Characteristics of this climate Stockholm’s climate falls under the humid continental climate (Dfb) category according to the Köppen-Geiger classification. This means it experiences cold, snowy winters and mild to warm summers.  Precipitation is distributed fairly evenly throughout the year, though summers tend to have more rainfall. Winter temperatures in Stockholm can drop below freezing, while … Read more

Environmental Analysis of Madrid

Part 1: Climate Analysis Madrid falls into two koppen climate classification zones: a cold semi-arid climate (classification BSk) in the metropolitan area, and a mediterranean, dry-summer climate in the west half of the city (classification Csa). The main characteristics of this climate are hot, dry summers and cold, humid winters. There are also large temperate … Read more

Deconstructing Alcatraz

1. Design Concept and computational Design System Obsolete typology Interpretation Deconstruction    Understanding the current prisons as punitive institutions that fail to rehabilitate but imprison inmates without offering social inclusion solutions increases the risk of recidivism.     Deconstructing Alcatraz proposes an alternative to this typological lack through its own reconstruction. In a VR environment the proposal consists … Read more

Landscape of Consequence

Semi Aerial View

The Architecture of Second Chances Transforming Punishment into Progress Through Computational Design In the evolving discourse of criminal justice reform, the intersection of architecture, technology, and rehabilitation presents unprecedented opportunities to reimagine how we approach incarceration. Our project, “Landscape of Consequence,” proposes a radical reconceptualization of Alcatraz Island, transforming this symbol of isolation into a … Read more

άβυσσος avissos

What if punishment and rehabilitation could coexist in a fully immersive virtual environment? Can justice be achieved in the virtual realm? A Transformative Journey in Emotional Rehabilitation Avissos, named after the Greek word for the deepest part of the sea, reimagines emotional rehabilitation as a unique, multi-stage journey. This concept challenges individuals to confront empathy, … Read more

Memory Loop

 This is Memory Loop, a computational design project that reimagines the rehabilitation experience for prisoners on Alcatraz Island. Here, architecture becomes more than confinement. It becomes an adaptive, generative space for introspection and reflection. A system that emerges, evolves, and dissolves in response to its purpose. The concept is simple but powerful. Instead of static … Read more

Re (Form) Reality // ITERUM

The Context The prisoner’s journey is an emotional and psychological transformation. The spaces inhabited during this process are designed to mirror the evolving state of mind, fostering introspection and awareness.Architecture becomes a tools to reflect the prisoner’s internal experiences, guiding them through stages of self-realization: as the prisoners confront these emotions within the space, they … Read more

PRIZORB  – Complex Forming

Brief Create a concept for a virtual reality (VR) prison where inmates serve sentences within a modified VR simulation of Alcatraz Island, located in California. Your design reimagines the island prison typology, a longstanding method of separating prisoners into a distinct, isolated space. Although traditional prisons emphasized isolation from society, modern incarceration aims to foster … Read more

The 4 Seasons

The project While in prison, inmates often lose their sense of time and the natural rotation of the seasons. Their lives tend to become a continuous loop with little variation and few opportunities to start anew by learning new skills or pursuing higher education. Additionally, the social environment in these spaces is frequently governed by … Read more

The Lost City of Atlantis

Project Brief The Utopian submerged citySome submerged cities are envisioned as utopian societies, thriving under the sea with advanced technology and new ways of living, creating an ideal or harmonious civilization far removed from the troubles of the land-based world.In contrast, others are depicted as dystopian settings, where the survivors of a collapsed society are … Read more

The Re-iterating Maze

The Re-Iterating Maze helps inmates at Alcatraz develop meditative practices through rehabilitation, using their sentence to make a more peaceful existence possible. Our concept allows prisoners a mindful form of exercise, allowing them to use their time outdoors exploring multidimensional pathways. Mindful walking encourages the brain to focus on the activity of traversing a determined path. By … Read more

whatisreality?

* whatisheterotopia? /ˌhɛtəroʊˈtoʊpiə/ noun “The cemetery, as a space of the living and the dead, is a classic example of a heterotopia.” 2.Architecture: A site or design that challenges traditional notions of spatial organization, inviting multiple interpretations and experiences. “The urban park became a heterotopia, a sanctuary from the city’s chaos yet deeply rooted within … Read more

RE:HABITAT

Abstract Prisons are constrained by tangible realities – static physical forms, high-density layouts, lack of amenity and limited access to natural spaces. These constraints are typically a result of inflexible systems and rigid hierarchies with high oversight to keep prisoner behaviour in check, but result in the need for efficient use of space and cost-effectiveness. … Read more

Urban Wind Flow Modeling with PINNs

Overview PaperLink WIP – This study specifically explores Physics-Informed Neural Networks (PINNs) and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) to analyze pedestrian wind comfort. It aims to integrate these neural network models into a web application using Three.js and other tools. By utilizing data from OpenWeatherMap, and OpenStreetMap, the project aims to support real-time simulations and visualizations … Read more